Happens all the time with smaller outfits. A few are scam artists, most are just perpetually on the edge of going broke and trying to save a bit.

With heavily regulated British/Aus books, it's fairly rare. Even when they do, it tends to be a bit more organised. I had an Aussie book go bust on me, got all my money back because all their deposits were covered in escrow. A UK-based book also, they shut down, paid out no problem. Neither was serious money, a few thousand, but as far as I know everyone got paid from both.

By contrast, I had money in a book based in Malta (a lot of smaller European books are based there). Owner disappeared, I lost 5k euros.

Other than that, you're largely relying on reputation and size. All the pro-focused books (Pinnacle, SBO, IBC) are serious outfits. Of the recreational ones, party/bwin are large, as are the British ones with lots of physical shops (Ladbrokes, William Hill, etc).

I've been betting for 10 year's with at least 15 different books and never not been paid. I once found a loophole and took a major book for a 27k ride over a week and they paid me out on everything except the last bet I made, which was only for about 2k so I didn't care much.

However, I've had tons of accounts banned for the simple fact that I was winning. Bet365 specifically told me 'it is not in our economic interest to keep you as a client' which I thought was pretty ridiculous.

I've been betting for 10 year's with at least 15 different books and never not been paid. I once found a loophole and took a major book for a 27k ride over a week and they paid me out on everything except the last bet I made, which was only for about 2k so I didn't care much.

However, I've had tons of accounts banned for the simple fact that I was winning. Bet365 specifically told me 'it is not in our economic interest to keep you as a client' which I thought was pretty ridiculous.

SportsInteraction in Canada screwed me, they said Referral bonus 20% of the total first time deposit for me as well as the one whom I referred.

I had like $1000 in my account and I was in a profit of $600, I referred 3 people and each put $1000 in their account so i made another $600.

I played with the $600 bets and rolled it over like 4x and bet more than $3500 and won close to $3000, I lost $500 dollars but started with just $200, since I have finished all my rollovers I thought i will remove it, but look at the catch now

I wasn't allowed due to the following reasons

1]$600 [3x $200] needed to be rolleved over 6 times from my side for the bonus alone which means I should have played at the least $3600 [which I almost did]
2]I should have played another 3 times $600 as my money which means further $1800
3]My friends who deposited $1000 should have rolled over their bonus 6 times [which means 6x200 = 1200] + rollover 3 times the actual money which was [3x1000 = $3000] so in total they should have placed a stakes for $4200 , 3 friends = $12600.

4]Now If I complete my rollovers then I can withdraw my deposited money but not my winnings, for me to withdraw my winnings which came as a bonus due to referring me and my friends have to complete the rollovers, which is 12600 + 3600 + 1800 = $18000, so for me to take the full $3000 I should have placed a stake of $18000 , if not after completing my stake of $5400 I am allowed to withdraw just the $1000.

Hearing it I got heart broken, its first of all very difficult to win in gambling and even more difficult to win in sportsinteraction and its highly unlikely to win with $18000 bets, so i finally gave up [tried massive betting and all flopped and lost]

5]Oh forgot the bets placed will not count if the risk factor is less than 1.51x times.

Since then moved to bet365, have won something withdrawn and lost something, but atleast they are fair.

That will be the last victory of Rafa for quite some time.. With his joke mentality and pathetic game, I hope the disgusting player loses every single match next season. He's disgraceful. He should just retire. He's a joke.